Dispensing container and overcap



y 968 A. K. GRIMSLEY 3,383,018

DISPENSING CONTAINER AND OVERCAP Filed July 15, 1966 INVENTOR. A1? V/DKid-2 [Sf/V fifl/MJMY United States Patent 3,383,018 DISPENSINGCONTAINER AND OVERCAP Arvid Kjellsen Grimsley, Mountainside, N.J.,assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of NewJersey I Filed July 15, 1966, Ser. No. 565,468 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-108)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispensing container having a dispensingelement attached to a closure and a detachable overcap telescopicallyfitted to the closure to enclose the dispensing element. The closure isprovided with spaced serrations on its peripheral surface which arefirictionally received within one end of the overcap to hold the memberstogether. The overcap adjacent its other end has a transverse perforatewall which, in cooperation with the spaces between the serrations at thetelescoped connection on the closure, enables air to circulate throughthe interior of the overcap.

This invention relates to a squeeze container with a special dispenser,and more particularly to a dispenser unit with a snap-on overcap whichenables easy use and cleansing care of the dispenser.

The concept of a squeeze container with attached dispenser is not new.For example, collapsible squeeze tubes having special closures withvarious forms of applicators, brushes or other dispensers affixedthereto are quite common today. One such device is disclosed in U.S.Patent No. 3,104,032 to H. M. Hansen. Such dispensers are used for suchproducts as infant foods, oral medicaments and other products intendedfor oral human consumption.

This invention specifically relates to a combination of a squeezecontainer-dispenser unit and snap-on overcap which enables propercleansing and drying of the dispenser element between uses.

An object of this invention is the provision of a collapsibletube-dispenser unit having a snap-on overcap which protects thedispenser between usage and enables the dispenser to be cleaned anddried.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a collapsibletube-dispenser unit in combination with a manually removable overcapwherein the overcap is constructed to facilitate drying of the dispenserafter each use.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an illustrative embodiment ofthe instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial side elevational view.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom end view.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE2; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 ofFIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 1, showing a preferred or exemplary embodiment of thisinvention, there is illustrated a dispensing unit comprising acollapsible tube generally designated 10, a spoon dispensing closuregenerally designated 20, and a snap-on overcap generally designated 30.

Tube is a standard collapsible tube, either of metal, plastic orplastic-foil construction, and comprises a squeezable body 11 and an endseal 12 Which is formed after a product has been placed in the tube. Theend of the tube opposite seal 12 is provided with a headpiece (notshown) which is usually threaded to receive a threaded closure, such asclosure 20.

Closure comprises an internally threaded cap member 21 which isthreadably engaged on the neck of tube 10 and a dispensing member 22integrally mounted on cap 21 and into which the contents of the tube 10may be dispense-d in desired dosage. In the device illustrated, member22 is a spoon for month feeding and is provided with an aperture 23 atits base end which coacts with a plug formation 13 on the head end oftube 10 to provide open and closed positions on rotation of the closure20.

It will be understood that closure 20 may be a form of dispenser otherthan the spoon-type here illustrated (e.g. applicator brush or sponge,denture brush, etc.) and that member 21 may be of different constructionand attached to tube 10 by any one of several conventional types ofattachment. For the purpose of this invention, the term dispensingmember means any device by which the product of the container isdispensed or applied for its intended use, either directly into thedispensing member, such as spoon 22 for dispensing directly into thehuman mouth, or indirectly as, for example, an applicator brush forapplying a dose of the product to some work area after its removal fromthe container. In either case, it will be understood that the productmay be introduced to the dispensing member directly from the containerthrough a suitable communication passage, such as aperture 23 asillustrated, or by pouring from the container into the dispenser or ontoa work surface to be treated.

The outer surface of member 21 is provided with fine serrations 24 whichenable slip-free twisting of the closure. These serrations perform afurther important function in the instant invention in connection withthe overcap 30, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Overcap 30, illustrated in the drawings .as transparent, is frictionallyengaged on closure member 21 and encloses the spoon dispenser 22. Asshown, overcap 30 functions as a standup pedestal whereby the dispenserunit may be disposed in an upright position. A side wall 31 of theovercap is provided with a stepped smooth interior wall 32 at its upperend which fits over and frictionally receives the serrations 24 onclosure member 21. Stepped wall 32 terminates in a lower shoulder 33against which the peaks of serrations 24 at their lower end may rest, asshown in enlarged scale in FIGURE 5, thus limiting the extent of axialengagement between serrations 24 and stepped wall 32.

The lower end of overcap 30 is provided with :a generally transversewall having an annular conical section 34 and a planar portion 35, asbest illustrated in FIGURE 4. Conical section 34 is provided with spacedperforations 36 substantially intermediate its junction with planarportion 35 and upright wall 31. Wall 31 extends below transverse wallmembers 34-35 and is cut away adjacent its bottom end to providealternating spaced cutouts 37 and pedestal legs 38.

It will be seen, particularly from an examination of- FIGURE 4, thatinwardly of perforations 36 there is provided a dish-shaped section madeup of planar portion 35 and the innermost portion of conical section 34.This provides a catch basin for drainage from spoon member 22. Forexample, for sanitary reasons, it is desirable after each use that spoolmember 22 be washed in hot water as is customary for other utensils usedfor oral ingestion of food, medicine and the like. Overcap 30 can bereplaced immediately after water cleansing of the spoon and the entirepackage is then put away in upright position. Any water remaining onspoon 22. will drain into the catch basin immediately below its tip. Therather small collection of water will evaporate away by reason of aircirculating through spaces 37, apertures 36 and the spaces betweenstepped wall 32 and serrations 24, as illustrated by the arrows inFIGURE 2. To maintain the flow of circulating air, it is important thatthe upper end of overcap 30 not be sealed tightly against the end wallof tube 10. For this reason, shoulder 33 is provided on the inside ofthe overcap to insure that air flow space is maintained between theupper end of the overcap and the end Wall of the tube.

It goes without saying that the described invention has utility forother dispensing devices in addition to the spoon-on-tube dispenser hereillustrated. For example, the dispenser may be a brush or scrubbingdevice attached to a container of denture powder or paste. In such anapplication where the brush is wetted during use, it will be seen thatthe instant invention will permit the collection and gradual evaporationof moisture from the brush during the period of storage between eachuse. The same advantages are foreseen for such applications as shaving.brushes, cosmetic applicators and many other types of dispensers.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container with means providing for the dissipating ofmoisture as an incident to use or cleansing, comprising a containerbody, a closure on said body having a dispensing member attachedthereto, and an overcap detachably connected at one end to said closureand enclosing said dispensing member, said closure and overcap havingtelescoping surfaces at their connection providing interruptedfrictional engagement, said overcap having at its other endcircumferentially spaced legs for supporting said container in stand-upposition and a transverse perforate wall spaced from said legs.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said transverse perforate wall isdish shaped and includes a central imperforate depression for collectingmoisture drained from said dispensing member.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein one of said telescoping surfacesconsists of spaced serrations which frictionally engage the other ofsaid surfaces, said spaced serrations providing communication throughsaid connection whereby air entering the interior of said overcapthrough the spaces between said support legs and said perforate wall mayescape through the spaces between said serrations.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,695 10/1931 Wolferman 215-XR 2,347,150 4/1944 Consolazio 215100 XR 2,579,194- 12/1951' Kronish21511 2,953,170 9/1960 Bush 215--11 XR 3,022,915 2/1962 Mullin 215-113,045,723 7/1962 Gainor 215-100 XR 3,071,272 1/1963 Doner 215l13,104,403 9/ 1963 Hansen ZZZ-91 3,235,131 2/1966 Lerner 222182 WALTERSOBIN, Primary Examiner.

